Co-Op Overview

The Co-Op is a faith-based initiative of Kansas City area churches working together to bring about transformation at the neighborhood level. The initiative’s strategy is based on working with community leaders within a neighborhood inside of four catalytic program areas: housing, economic development, cradle-to-career education, and health and wellness services.

The idea ofthe Co-Op began as a conversation in 2006 as a way for churches across the Kansas City area to explore and create new models of working together, models that could contribute to neighborhood revitalization and sustainable community development. What emerged was a group of churches and nonprofits willing to move beyond the four walls of the church to be a part of the long-term work of sustainable neighborhood transformation.

In 2012 the Co-Op was officially launched and is now working in various stages with three neighborhoods across the Greater Kansas City Area. The Co-Op’s goal is to help these three neighborhoods become the kind of place one would want to live not leave.

Currently the Co-Op is incorporated in the state of Kansas and is in the process of seeking its own 501c3 status with the IRS. In the meantime, the Co-Op functions as an initiative under the Fiscal Sponsorship of Significant Matters.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Co-Op is to mobilize, equip and facilitate collaboration among churches and other willing partners to bring about neighborhood transformation reflecting Christ’s plan for a just and reconciled city.

Collective Impact

John Kania & Mark Kramer – Stanford Social Innovation Review

“Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination, yet the social sector remains focused on the isolated intervention of individual organizations.” This paper describes the TYPE OF COLLABORATION the Co-Op has been working on and the various “upfront costs” to partnering organizations it takes to move from “isolated impact” to “collective impact.”

Olathe Latino Coalition Condensed Report

This report is a shortened version of a 50 page Final Report and Recommendations submitted by the Olathe Latino Coalition. At present some of the details of the report and recommendations are under consideration by all the parties involved. Until the final report is approved by all participating parties this shortened version gives a snapshot of the work, process and participants involved in this effort.

SAT Talks

THE BIG IDEA: How can we pursue our missional goals in ways that lead to self-sustaining communities where basic needs are being met without relying on charitable resources and where the community itself has the ability to provide its members with the ongoing means and opportunities to achieve their full potential?

One of the great lessons learned through the TED Talk phenomenon is that you can actually accelerate the learning curve of new ideas by bringing innovative people together to share their best ideas, discoveries, models and lessons with others. We believe that there are a number of individuals, churches and faith-based organizations that are actively working on models that reflect the above “BIG IDEA.” They have moved beyond the theoretical and abstract to a point where they are investing resources, executing strategies and working through various stages of “proof of concept.” SAT Talks bring a small group of 8-12 groups together and have each of them share their best 18 minute presentation. Learn more…

Understanding the Value of Backbone Organizations in Collective Impact

Shiloh Turner, Kathy Merchant, John Kania, Ellen Martin

FSG and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF)have partnered to understand and evaluate the role of backbone organizations in collective impact efforts. Originally published as a four-part blog series by the Stanford Social Innovation Review, this article shares FSG’s and GCF’s experience of working with a cohort of six backbone organizations in Cincinnati to help funders and practitioners understand what it takes to be a backbone and what the value of this necessary, though often behind the scenes, role is in collective impact.